Centre College Offers To Hold Senate Debate

Centre College is joining the long list of organizations vying to host a debate between Kentucky's U.S. Senate candidates.

With two Vice Presidential debates under their belts – one in 2000, the other in 2012 – Centre College hopes to attract the high profile senate candidates to the same stage at Newlin Hall later this summer.

While Sen. Mitch McConnell and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes have yet to agree on a location or conditions for a debate, Centre president John Roush says he’s been urging both camps to take a serious look at the private liberal arts college in Danville.

"We have had a conversation of some consequence with Secretary Grimes and members of her staff to encourage her and then to make this a priority in terms of delivering an experience for the citizens that matters. We've been in contact with any number of people on the senator's staff, so they're fully aware of our interest in doing this [and] our partnership that we formed," he says.

That partnership includes sponsor AARP and media partner WAVE3.

While Centre has yet to receive any formal response from either side, officials have set a proposed date of September 3. The deadline for a response will be August 1.

WUKY reached out to both campaigns for response. A spokesperson for McConnell said the senator greatly appreciates Centre’s interest and the campaign looks forward to reviewing the proposal. Grimes campaign manager Jonathan Hurst wrote that the Democratic challenger stands “ready and committed to debating Mitch McConnell.”